Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reno, NV and Bakersfield, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Bakersfield, CA: $2,855 a month against $2,939 in Reno, NV, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Reno, NV despite lower rent and utilities.

141

Cost of Living Index in Reno, NV
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Reno, NV Living Index
137

Cost of Living Index in Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA Living Index

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Reno, NV

🇺🇸 United States

$2,939

/mo nomad

Bakersfield, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,855

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reno, NV and in Bakersfield, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Reno, NV and in Bakersfield, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,939 in Reno, NV versus $2,855 in Bakersfield, CA.

Reno, NV $2,939
Bakersfield, CA $2,855

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,216 in Reno, NV versus $3,902 in Bakersfield, CA.

Reno, NV $4,216
Bakersfield, CA $3,902

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,494 in Reno, NV versus $4,949 in Bakersfield, CA.

Reno, NV $5,494
Bakersfield, CA $4,949

Living in Reno, NV is roughly 3% more expensive than in Bakersfield, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Reno, NV 116% above, Bakersfield, CA 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.27 $26.27

$18.64 $18.64

40.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 $86.5

$64.8 $64.8

33.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.81 $12.81

$14.10 $14.10

-9.15%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$5.74 $5.74

-6.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.01 $2.01

-3.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.23 $7.23

$5.90 $5.90

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 $7.56

$5.81 $5.81

30.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.09 $1.09

5.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.16 $4.16

-4.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$5.07 $5.07

-23.27%

Eggs

$5.25 $5.25

$3.29 $3.29

59.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$12.75 $12.75

-7.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.00 $16.00

$13.34 $13.34

19.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.46 $23.46

$15.93 $15.93

47.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$4.16 $4.16

6.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.04 $2.04

-26.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.95 $3.95

-23.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$3.79 $3.79

82.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.14 $2.14

43.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.42 $2.42

54.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.12 $2.12

28.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.48 $2.48

-8.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.51 $10.51

$11.59 $11.59

-9.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 $12.44

$17.80 $17.80

-30.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.97 $1.97

0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.79 $4.79

-24.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.62 $1.62

25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.2 $64.2

$58.1 $58.1

10.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.03 $3.03

25.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.07 $2.07

25.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.64 $32.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.52 $1.52

-15.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.6K $27.6K

$27.5K $27.5K

0.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$27.2K $27.2K

-0.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 $177

$390 $390

-54.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$95.4 $95.4

$59.4 $59.4

60.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.5 $89.5

$74.9 $74.9

19.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 $32.43

$32.71 $32.71

-0.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 $15.91

$24.81 $24.81

-35.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.33 $14.33

$15.11 $15.11

-5.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,300 $1,300

$1,501 $1,501

-13.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 $54.2

$59.9 $59.9

-9.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.80 $32.80

$47.66 $47.66

-31.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 $74.7

$98.9 $98.9

-24.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$120 $120

19.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,536 $1,536

19.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$1,311 $1,311

11.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,811 $2,811

$1,828 $1,828

53.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 $2,153

$1,834 $1,834

17.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,519 $3,519

$2,742 $2,742

28.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,606 $3,606

$2,430 $2,430

48.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,363 $4,363

$3,743 $3,743

16.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

6.43

6.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Reno, NV: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Reno, NV

$1.5K 49.6%

Bakersfield, CA

$1.3K 45.9% 10.2% $148

Groceries & Markets

Reno, NV

$448 15.2%

Bakersfield, CA

$411 14.4% 8.3% $37

Eating Out

Reno, NV

$383 13%

Bakersfield, CA

$320 11.2% 16.3% $62

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Reno, NV

$362 12.3%

Bakersfield, CA

$525 18.4% 44.9% $163

Clothing & Footwear

Reno, NV

$138 4.7%

Bakersfield, CA

$147 5.2% 6.9% $9.4

Getting Around

Reno, NV

$89 3%

Bakersfield, CA

$78 2.7% 12.5% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Reno, NV

$61 2.1%

Bakersfield, CA

$63 2.2% 3% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,829 in Reno, NV and $1,536 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reno, NV pays 17% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $86 in Reno, NV vs $65 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $411 per month, with Bakersfield, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Reno, NV

🇺🇸 Bakersfield, CA

🕒 Local time

11:06 11:06 AM

Same time as Reno, NV

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

271,953

373,640

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Reno, NV Bakersfield, CA 470 km

From you

Reno, NV
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Reno, NV vs Bakersfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bakersfield, CA is about 3% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% higher in Reno, NV, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,829 in Reno, NV versus $1,536 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bakersfield, CA – a meal for two runs $65 versus $86 in Reno, NV. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $2,939 per month in Reno, NV versus $2,855 in Bakersfield, CA – Bakersfield, CA is about 3% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bakersfield, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bakersfield, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Reno, NV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.